Accounting and Financial Management BA

Foundations in Financial Management

In this module, you will develop a solid foundation in financial management, equipping you with the knowledge and analytical skills needed to make informed financial decisions. You will explore key principles, theories, and techniques used in the field, and learn how to apply them through relevant calculations and real-world scenarios. You will also examine contemporary issues and developments in the financial markets, helping you understand the broader context in which financial decisions are made. This module is designed to prepare you for more advanced study in years 2 and 3 and is aligned with the foundation-level content of professional accounting qualifications.

20 credits

Business Economics in a Contemporary Society

This module provides you   with a grounding in a range of business economics concepts that have immediate relevance to modern day businesses, society, and the economy. 

It introduces theoretically diverse concepts that include and contend with mainstream business economics thought, so that you are able to openly debate and engage with business economics topics. 

It is designed to challenge understanding of the socioeconomic environment in which businesses are embedded so that you become more cognizant with diverse ways of thinking about and understanding real world business economic issues.

20 credits

Introduction to Financial Accounting

You will develop an understanding of accounting as an essential business function. Accounting is the term used for recording and analysing the financial dealings of organisations rather than individuals. The content of this module is concerned with how, in current practice, financial transactions are recorded in accounting records and summarised in financial statements to provide a range of 'users' with an account of what has been going on in the business. The module begins with a brief historical overview of accounting and current debates in accounting, followed by an understanding and evaluation of the principles and conventions on which they are based. You will develop the ability to  construct financial statements for sole trader-type businesses and limited companies. The module focuses on the preparation, interpretation and limitation of financial statements and the regulatory framework in which they are prepared.

20 credits

Introduction to Management Accounting

This module introduces you to the core techniques of Management Accounting, with a focus on its application in business decision-making, financial planning, and performance evaluation. You will develop an understanding of key concepts such as cost classification, budgeting, costing methods, and capital investment appraisal. The module highlights the role of the management accountant in providing valuable insights through cost analysis, supporting both short- and long-term decisions, and enhancing organisational performance through behavioral and responsibility accounting. Additionally, you will explore the integration of management accounting with social, environmental and sustainability indicators, and their impact on both financial and non-financial outcomes, ensuring that future decisions align with sustainable business practices.

20 credits

Career Development Planning

This module is intended to provide a structured and supported process for you to reflect upon your own learning, performance and/or achievement, and to plan for your personal, educational and career development. It is designed to ensure you are fully prepared to gain the most from your academic studies and to be better placed to continue your development throughout and beyond your degree studies.

20 credits

You will take one of the following modules:

Analysis for Decision Making A

This unit will enable you to develop competencies in quantitative techniques and tools which are essential for the collection, analysis and interpretation of data in a business context. Focusing on a variety of business problems, the unit will demonstrate how quantitative techniques and spreadsheet tools can be used to support effective business decision making. The unit adopts a flipped learning model, combining independent study with spreadsheet-based workshops in computer labs and interactive in-class workshop sessions.

20 credits

Analysis for Decision Making B

You will develop competencies in quantitative techniques and tools which are essential for the collection, analysis and interpretation of data in a business context. You will analyse a variety of  business problems, and this module  will demonstrate how data-driven quantitative methods and spreadsheet tools can be used to support effective business decision making. The teaching on this module is aimed at those students who have not taken mathematics beyond GCSE or its equivalent. The learning and teaching  adopts a flipped learning model, combining independent study with spreadsheet-based workshops in computer labs and interactive in-class workshop sessions.

20 credits

Core modules:

Intermediate Management Accounting

In this module, you will build on previous knowledge on management accounting, viewing the management accountant as a key communicator and provider of information within organisations. You will learn how management accountants support decision-making and control by analysing and presenting information drawn from both internal and external sources. Emphasis will be placed on how management accounting services at policy, executive and operational levels. You will therefore explore how management accountants are involved in the evaluation of alternative courses of action and contribute to their implementation. You will also examine how management accounting techniques are evolving in response to the need for sustainable organisational performance and consider such as corporate social responsibility and ethics. You will gain a deeper understanding of the developing contribution to be made by management accountants in the creation, evaluation and control of sustainable organisations.

20 credits

Financial Management

This module aims to provide knowledge and understanding of key management issues in corporate finance with a focus on a broad range of issues including corporate investment and the financing of such investments. Students will critically assess various analytical techniques in relation to specific corporate finance applications and develop a knowledge of key board-level considerations.

The function of financial management is the acquisition and use of funds for investment purposes. Thus, this unit focuses on ways of raising and deploying investment finance, the institutions involved, and the tools and techniques that are used when making financial decisions. Financial decisions are not isolated from the rest of society, so the module also considers perspectives on the relationship between finance and society and the prospective impact of financial decisions on other parties.

20 credits

Intermediate Financial Accounting

This is an intermediate level financial accounting course, building on your learning on the year1 'introductory' module. It follows that some of the concepts, techniques and skills acquired during the study in year 1 remain examinable (revision exercises are provided throughout the module). In addition you will engage in examination of a range of accounting standards and underpinning rationales, a review of the major conceptual debates currently preoccupying both accountants and standard-setters, and an exploration of the practical problems associated with the reporting of the results of limited companies and groups.

20 credits

Corporate Finance

This advanced module is designed for students seeking to specialise in finance. It builds upon foundational principles of financial management to provide a rigorous examination of the theories and practices central to modern corporate finance. The module provides a robust foundation for subsequent advanced study and equips students to analyse the complex financial landscape in which firms operate.The curriculum focuses on firm-level financial decision-making. You will examine advanced theories and analytical techniques for company valuation, investment appraisal, and the determination of optimal capital structure and dividend policy. Furthermore, the module investigates the impact of contemporary issues, such as asymmetric information, on firm strategy and valuation.Emphasis is placed on the application of theoretical frameworks to practical problems. Through the analysis of contemporary case studies and business scenarios, you will learn to translate complex models into actionable financial insights. This applied methodology develops key capabilities in financial modelling and problem-solving. Upon completion, you will have strengthened the essential competencies required for a career in finance: rigorous analytical reasoning, strategic thinking, and the effective communication of complex financial information.

20 credits

Optional modules (choose two):

Career Management Theory and Practice

This module is designed to incorporate critical reflection on the concepts of career and career management suitable for undergraduates in the School of Management for their own personal development and action planning as well as their future use as managers and employers within organisations.

20 credits

Business Statistics

This module builds on the content taught in Year 1. Several important techniques for collecting and analysing data are taught. These include a review of the principles of confidence intervals and hypothesis testing, then their extension to other situations: means, variances and proportions for one and two populations, the analysis of categorical data (contingency tables), the Analysis of Variance including interaction models, simple and multiple regression, and non-parametric methods. Central to the learning of these topics is the use of a state-of-the-art statistical package, namely, SPSS.

20 credits

Business Strategy

This course will introduce students to business strategy and the strategic management process. It seeks to enhance their understanding of the theories and practice of strategy. Students will be able to learn why, and how, companies make strategic decisions in the context of today's complex and dynamic world of business. Students will be introduced to various strategic analysis frameworks and learn how these can be used to help organisations better understand their strategic position and formulate feasible and suitable growth and competitive strategies. Based on a sound understanding of the theories, students will be required to apply the concepts through the use of innovative strategic planning teaching and learning technologies and case study material.

20 credits

Corporate Governance

In modern organisations, a robust and suitable  governance structure is a primary requirement for their success and survival.  This module equips you with a detailed understanding of corporate governance structures, the key issues in the area of corporate governance and related academic debate.. In this module you will cover the subject from a theoretical and practical perspective. The first part of the module introduces you to the main components of corporate governance, mechanisms to align the interests of various stakeholders and international diversity across national systems of corporate governance. In the second part of the module you will engage with key trends in corporate governance using a more critical perspective. You will reflect on corporate governance reforms driven by corporate scandals. Towards the end of the module you will  explore current topics and events - including ownership, ESG - environmental, social and governance - scores and stewardship - and critically engage with the theoretical and policy debates on the future of corporate governance.

20 credits

Business Intelligence

Every modern business has access to large pools of data from various internal and external sources. Internally, businesses hold data about their products and services, workforce, customers and suppliers, to name a few. Externally, social media data, such as customer comments on products/services, is increasingly becoming vital as businesses endeavour to retain their customers and design or redesign new products or services to meet customer expectations. Data is now universally recognised as the most critical resource in managing businesses. However, businesses will struggle to use data for competitive and strategic advantage unless it is transformed into intelligence. Business Intelligence has become one of the essential assets in 21st-century organisations as it turns raw data into actionable insights. In this module, you will learn key elements of Business Intelligence (BI) and its diverse applications across various fields, including human resources, customer retention, and enhancing business competitiveness. You will also gain practical hands-on experience by utilising a robust, user-friendly BI platform commonly used in the industry.

20 credits

Law for Management

The module provides a basic introduction to the core aspects of domestic law and relevant EU law. The syllabus covers a study of the domestic legal system, the law of contract, aspects of agency, and the law of negligence incorporating the potential liability of those in the business of delivering advice in professional practice. The module also examines the law relating to companies including the legal regulation of business organisations.

20 credits

Core modules:

Advances in Financial Accounting

The module follows on from the financial accounting modules taken at year 1 and 2. It extends your technical competency in financial accounting and allows for a deeper analysis of financial reporting issues in a number of key areas. You will study  segmental reporting, consolidated balance sheets, consolidated profit and loss accounts, vertical group balance sheets, associated company accounts, joint ventures. In addition, you will learn the effects of changing prices in accounting, foreign currency translation, capital instruments, financial instruments, related- party transactions and the international harmonisation of accounting standards.

20 credits

Advances in Management Accounting

This final-year module builds on knowledge from Years 1 and 2, with a focus on critically applying management accounting techniques in real-world and strategic contexts. Using contemporary case studies, you will examine how management accounting supports decision-making in complex organisational environments.The module explores both critiques of conventional accounting and emerging approaches such as value-based management, strategic management accounting, and sustainability reporting. Topics include performance measurement, supply chain accounting, and the accountant's role in addressing environmental and social challenges.Through critical engagement with academic research and practice-based developments, you will assess the evolving role of management accounting in a rapidly changing business landscape. The module also develops collaborative learning and the ability to produce informed, practical responses to contemporary accounting issues.

20 credits

Case Studies in Accounting and Consultancy

In this module you will learn and apply the critical thinking skills needed to explore contemporary issues in the global economy, based on real-world case studies. Each year, a selection of companies will be chosen for you to explore key social and economic themes, including the shareholder value drivers of corporate restructuring, the impact of 'Fair Value' accounting techniques, and creative and aggressive accounting in large outsourcing firms.

With lectures and tutorials based on developing your qualitative research skills, you will be encouraged to generate your own empirical findings from a review of financial accounting data and to link these to contemporary themes in social scientific research. We will provide you with the in-depth support needed to achieve this, with a syllabus that offers training in how to explore company databases and corporate accounts.

Transferable skills you will gain upon completion of this module include the ability to analyse financial accounting data, critically discuss your findings, and present your findings in written and verbal format. The module therefore provides excellent practical experience for careers in analysis and consultancy for public, private and third sector organisations.

20 credits

Optional modules (choose two):

Company Analysis and Valuation

This module is aimed at those students wanting to move into fund management / trading within global equity markets and who are targeting leading investment banks and fund managers as a career destination. The module will develop skills and understanding of a Bloomberg terminal and how to analyse and value companies using a range of techniques. The module will focus on using predominantly numerical techniques however these will be blended with other considerations which impact the value and performance of global listed companies. A wide range of global case studies will be used to demonstrate advanced valuation techniques and investment principles, thus giving students a sound grounding to take future professional qualifications with bodies such as the CFA. Tutorials will be based in a trading room enabling students to utilise a wide range of practical data sources and trading platforms, such as Bloomberg within the setting of a small and supportive class.

20 credits

Auditing

The aim of this module is to consider how successfully auditing carries out the roles that are assigned to it. An audit is the independent examination of, and expression of an opinion on, the financial statements of an enterprise. Audit has crucial roles to play in the processes of corporate and social governance, relating especially to the transmission of information to financial markets and individual/groups to whom organisations are accountable. In the 'audit society', the meaning of audit has broadened to embrace diverse forms of inspection and non-financial performance reporting. This course is designed to introduce students to the major issues in auditing theory and practice, making reference to current contexts.

20 credits

Advances in Corporate Finance

This advanced-level module provides a rigorous and comprehensive foundation in modern corporate finance and asset pricing theory. It explores a range of sophisticated topics central to financial decision-making within firms and the functioning of capital markets. Key themes include debt and equity financing, financing and investment decisions under asymmetric information, managerial incentives and executive compensation, mergers and acquisitions, and the interplay between market efficiency and behavioural biases. In addition to these core areas, the module examines the pricing and strategic use of financial derivatives, such as forward and futures contracts, options, warrants, and convertible securities in corporate settings. You will engage with both classical theories and contemporary empirical debates, cultivating the analytical and critical thinking skills required to assess complex corporate financial decisions and navigate dynamic financial environments.

20 credits

Applied Accounting and Financial Management: Business Simulation

This module provides students with a chance to apply the skills that they have acquired throughout their degree, through their own 'virtual company' within a simulated business environment. It aims to foster employability skills while also testing the competence of students with regards to both application of skills required by finance professionals, and also in the ability to critically reflect on performance and formulate new strategies following a period of management of an organisation.

The simulation presents students with challenges, not only in managing the company's output and finances, but also in important business areas such as human resources, handling legal issues, and sustainability.

20 credits

Sustainability, Accountability, and Professional Ethics in Accounting and Finance

In the contemporary business environment, ethics play a large part in how organisations and individuals conduct their activities. This module will expose you to the necessary ethical considerations that accounting and finance professionals should have.

Therefore, in this module, you will cover three key areas of professional and wider ethics associated with becoming a critically-informed accounting and finance professional.

The first area of focus covers ethics in financial and management accounting careers, including the code of ethics prescribed by accounting professional bodies. This area then progresses into more specialist forms of ethical awareness that will assist you in developing the skills required to be an ethically-informed professional in accounting/finance. Such examples will include critical analysis, professional scepticism, and developing the attention to detail that is necessary to apply professional ethics to the practice of accounting.

The second theme will cover the ethics involved specifically with finance and newer modes of financial data and pricing. This includes recognising and disclosing material risks in sustainability reports and assessing these risks for purposes such as bank loan provisioning. 

The final area of focus is individual and collective accountability, covered from both a theoretical and practical perspective. You will learn about popular theoretical perspectives on accountability and have the opportunity to reflect on these based on a practical case study example.

20 credits

Optional modules (choose one):

Emerging Markets Finance

The unit provides an understanding of the financial system and of finance and investments in emerging markets. The unit covers the essential elements of finance in emerging markets as well as institutional and policy issues affecting emerging markets. The first part of the unit looks at the main characteristics of emerging market finance in the light of economic reforms leading to financial liberalisation and market openness. The second part looks at the role of financial markets in financial globalisation and the last part will focus on reviewing recent financial crises and the lessons for future developments in emerging markets. (The financial crises covered in the module will not be restricted to the recent one only, it will also include the Latin American debt crisis 1982-89, East Asia crisis 1997-99 and Russian/Brazil debt crisis 1998).

20 credits

Taxation in Theory and Practice

The theory of taxation examines the principal concepts, which are used to analyse the impact and incidence of direct and indirect taxation on (groups of) individuals and the economy as a whole. Practical taxation requires an understanding of basic tax law and the procedures for calculating the tax liabilities of individuals and companies.

20 credits

Financial Derivatives

Over the last thirty years, the worldwide derivatives market has grown enormously in size and importance. This growth is due in part to the long-term consequences of the now famous option pricing formula developed by Black, Scholes and Merton and published in 1973 and the increase in the volatility of many financial instruments over the last 30 years. Futures and options, which are both derivative securities, are increasingly used by many participants in financial markets. This includes bankers, fund managers, security and currency traders in the world's major financial centres, but also increasingly extends to the finance departments of public and private sector organizations. This module aims to provide an introduction to the pricing and use of some of the basic types of derivative securities. Reflecting the subject, the module is analytical in nature. All concepts are taught from first principles. The course is self-contained to a large extent and includes lectures on the underlying financial economics as well as necessary mathematics and statistics.

20 credits